Sourcing Manager (Fashion)

The job holder will be responsible for creating, supporting & executing the strategy & vision of sourcing function of the business initiatives & leading fashion brand growth plan through strategic sourcing initiatives, supply chain management and project initiatives. He / She will lead Apparel Sourcing, and work with quality, Buying, Logistics to elevate vendors & supply chain to the next level through innovation, world-class systems, process & best practices strategically in alignment with the Corporate teams and focus in driving project initiatives. The job holder will also be responsible for ensuring smooth local buying operations through vendor identification, evaluation and selection, in compliance with the contract principles, as well as effective people management to achieve the strategic and financial objectives of the group/department

Job Description

• Deeply ingrain into the role of understanding the brand & target customer for whom we are catering to.
• The job holder will be responsible for the strategy & vision for the sourcing & quality functions that would continue to help position the fashion brand as the number one value retailer in the MENA region and a market leader.
• Align the corporate initiatives along with the fashion brand in the way-forward strategy
• Drive & Support Fabric standardization across apparel
• Manage sourcing market risks & focus in penetrating new markets – product competitiveness
• Manage vendor matrix, large-scale vendors & aligning growth strategy with all key vendors
• Leverage fabric library for core fabrics usage across departments & for seasonal trends by working directly with key mills.
• Must have good global sourcing & production experience across fabric mills & vendors.
• Continue to drive Social compliance for apparel and introduce for non-apparel along with other CSR initiatives
• Managing a range of projects from initial requests to proposal drafting, to acceptance, delivery and follow-up.
• A good manager of people, experienced in communicating with senior management, buyers and supply chain.
• Must be a team-player & should be able to present information to larger groups comfortably.
• Continue to work in elevating the teams and raising the bar.
• Build & communicate product (multi-product) strategy per season and long-term
• Build Strong understanding of trend & customer with an ability to commercially adapt the fashion for fast turn-around
• Align the buying plan to the overall department/category business plan and the merchandize strategy as laid down by the function head
• Build and maintain relationships with vendors and suppliers and negotiate the best deals with them for procuring merchandise
• Maintain contact with vendors; update list of vendors for bidding purposes; attend product demonstrations, obtain samples and literature regarding potential products and vendor capabilities and confer with end users
• Pursue cost reduction measures through centralized bulk buying and/ or selecting appropriate vendor mix, scanning the environment for benchmarks and constantly improving the purchase process
• Provide inputs to sourcing department for group/department sourcing strategy
• Ensure department compliance to product requirement, company processes etc in collaboration with sourcing
• Ensure critical path milestones are met & reduce exceptions
• Conduct regular store visits in own stores across territories for feedback and in competition stores in our markets to benchmark product range, quality and pricing.
• Keep abreast of the latest fashion trends in buying and apply the same in the range building activity
• Gather information from Industry trade groups or through trade shows/market visits

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree as a minimum or Master’s degree level either in Textiles or Apparel with fabric focus and understanding.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in a retail business environment with a minimum of 2-3 years’ experience as a sourcing manager in managing a team of minimum 2-3 team members.
• A successful track record of building relationships with cross functional partners and offering new and innovative solutions to quality issues/challenges.
• Experience developing & leveraging strategic business relationships with vendors.
• Process improvement capabilities including proven examples of implementing operational efficiencies, quality standards, fabric rationalization, vendor standardization & benefits.
• Works with a high sense of urgency & integrity & is motivated by new challenges.
• Ability to understand, summarize and present large amounts of information
• Good command of English Language
• Excellent word processing and general computing skills / analytical skills
• Strong product knowledge in related category/department
• Strong customer and trend understanding
• Advanced retail analytical skills
• Strong sourcing and range building skills
• Strategic thinking
• Experience in Local Buying is a MUST
• Strong influencer and communicator with ability to interact within cross functional team and with multiple stakeholders across functions and levels
• Negotiation and vendor management skills
• Risk management skills
• Innovative & critical thinking ability
• People management- ability to coach and guide team on goals, performance and growth